CHAPTER XIV.

THE CHASE.

On the morning after my visit to the boarding-house, I received a few hurried lines from Curzon, informing me that no time was to be lost in joining the regiment—­that a grand fancy ball was about to be given by the officers of the Dwarf frigate, then stationed off Dunmore; who, when inviting the ___, specially put in a demand for my well-known services, to make it to go off, and concluding with an extract from the Kilkenny Moderator, which ran thus—­

“An intimation has just reached us, from a quarter on which we can place the fullest reliance, that the celebrated amateur performer, Mr. Lorrequer, may shortly be expected amongst us; from the many accounts we have received of this highly-gifted gentleman’s powers, we anticipate a great treat to the lovers of the drama,” &c. &c.  “So you see, my dear Hal,” continued Curzon, “thy vocation calls thee; therefore come, and come quickly—­provide thyself with a black satin costume, slashed with light blue—­point lace collar and ruffles—­a Spanish hat looped in front—­and, if possible, a long rapier, with a flap hilt.—­Carden is not here; so you may show your face under any colour with perfect impunity.—­Yours from the side scenes,

“C.  Curzon.”

This clever epistle sufficed to show me that the gallant __th had gone clean theatrical mad; and although from my “last appearance on any stage,” it might be supposed I should feel no peculiar desire to repeat the experiment, yet the opportunity of joining during Col.  Carden’s absence, was too tempting to resist, and I at once made up my mind to set out, and, without a moment’s delay, hurried across the street to the coach office, to book myself an inside in the mail of that night; fortunately no difficulty existed in my securing the seat, for the way-bill was a perfect blank, and I found myself the only person who had, as yet, announced himself a passenger.  On returning to my hotel, I found O’Flaherty waiting for me; he was greatly distressed on hearing my determination to leave town—­explained how he had been catering for my amusement for the week to come—­that a picnic to the Dargle was arranged in a committee of the whole house, and a boating party, with a dinner at the Pigeon-house, was then under consideration; resisting, however, such extreme temptations, I mentioned the necessity of my at once proceeding to headquarters, and all other reasons for my precipitancy failing, concluded with that really knock-down argument, “I have taken my place;” this, I need scarcely add, finished the matter—­at least I have never known it fail in such cases.  Tell your friends that your wife is hourly expecting to be confined; your favourite child is in the measles—­you best friend waiting your aid in an awkward scrape—­your one vote only wanting to turn the scale in an election.  Tell them, I say, each or all of these, or a hundred